The new birding pages on the Refuge System Web site include conservation stories about the Nihoa millerbird, the whimbrel and this Kirklands warbler.
Credit: USFWS

From bald eagles and bluewinged teals to sandhill cranes and puffins, hundreds of birds show their colors and their intriguing habits on national wildlife refuges. Now, the Refuge System Web site has new pages to encourage more visitors to bring their love of birds to wildlife refuges.

At fws.gov/refuges/birding, visitors can find special events and birding festivals, activities for families and stories about the groundbreaking work refuges do to protect birds and their habitat. A section on backyard birding identifies food preferences for wild birds in eastern and western North America. There are links to citizen science projects and to Bird Tracker results, which show current bird sightings at refuges. A for the pros section provides a checklist for refuges and Friends groups that want to improve the birding experience for visitors.